Abstract: The roots of Chlorophytum comosum underwater culture were studied by op tical and electron microscopy. This paper examined the structure of Chlorophytum comosum roots by the means of resin sections.
The results are as follows: (1) Chlorophytum comosum roots under water culture grew slowly, which were smaller in diameter in morphology. Lateral roots were fewer in number and root hair degenerated; (2) In microstructure, the root cap of the Chlorophytum comosum roots under water culture hardly had crystal cells, and the number of amylop lastwas fewer. Cortical cells and crystal cells in mature region were fewer than those under soil culture. Thickness of cell in endodermiswas thicker, and the area of the pith was less in the stele;(3) In the ultrastructure, there were a few organelles, such as rough endop lasmic reticulum (RER),mitochondria and endocytosis pits. In addition, p lastids would turn out to be chlorop last in roots under water
culture; (4) There were a few crystal cells of great volume in the cortex, and their development followed certain laws.

Key words: Chlorophytum comosum, root, soil culture, water culture, ultrastructure